Using sustainable metals to carry out “green” transformations: Fe- and Cu-catalyzed CO2 monetization

•CO2 activation transformations catalyzed by Fe- and Cu-based complexes are reviewed.•Detailed presentation of all related reaction mechanisms is performed.•The transformation of CO2 into useful chemical compounds is highly sustainable.•Cu and Fe are highly promising sustainable catalysts for the monetization of CO2.•The full potential of Fe-catalyzed CO2 methodologies has yet to be revealed.

Homogeneous transition metal catalysis is one of the most promising methodologies for the transformation of CO2 into value-added chemicals and secondary energy carriers. However, most of the transition metal catalysts used for this purpose are currently based on rare, expensive, and often toxic metals such as ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, or iridium. Copper and iron, two of the most abundant metals in earth's upper crust and both characterized by low toxicity, constitute highly promising alternatives for the monetization of CO2 in the context of sustainable catalysis. The present work gives a comprehensive overview of all CO2 activation transformations catalyzed by copper- and iron-based transition metal complexes.

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